
Class 17 

Book_X_ 

CopigM? M_ 



Ci3EXR!GHT DKPOSm 



THE LITTLE IMMIGRANT 

A TRUE STORY 



THE 
LITTLE IMMIGRANT 

A TRUE STORY 



BY 

EVA L. STERN 



NEW YORK 

PRIVATELY PRINTED 

MCMXXI 



31 



^3 5 ;^ 
^%«« 



COPYRIGHT, 1921, BY 
EVA L. STERN 



^4W rights reserved 



GEORGE HELD ALBANY AND NEW YOBK 



©CI.A654289 

DEC 28 1321 



fl 



i 



ILLUSTRATIONS 

FACING 
PAGE 

Exact reproduction of Bill op Sale for 
Sarah 34 

The bard Ossian playing his harp to 
Malvino 38 



THE LITTLE IMMIGRANT 

A TRUE STORY 



THE LITTLE IMMIGRANT 

CHAPTER I 

/ / "^L "T AH ! Renestine, cannot you 
|^L come with the skirt and let me 
-A. ^1 lay it in your trunk? You are 
dreaming, dreaming all the time. My child, 
these things must be ready by midnight to- 
night." 

The girl was thirteen years old and her 
mother was getting her possessions together 
to send her to America to join a sister who 
had already gone there and was married and 
now sent to have her little sister journey to 
the States, too. 

"Oh, Mutterchen, I do not want to go," 
burst out Renestine. "I want to stay with 
you. I do not want to go." 

"Nah! Kindlein, stay then," said the 
mother, keeping her own grief away from her 
child. 

Just then the door to the little room flew 
open and three excited girls of about Rene- 
[7] 



THE LITTLE IMMIGRANT 

stine's own age or perhaps one or two years 
older, bustled themselves inside. 

"Why, Renestine, you are not finished 
packing yet! We are ready and our trunks 
are roped and standing at the door for 
Laaskar to put on the post- wagon when he 
drives by on his way to the post-house to- 
night." 

The speaker stopped confused seeing that 
Renestine was silent with no joy in her eyes 
and the mother sat quietly with flushed 
cheeks and said nothing. 

"What has happened?" said the three girls 
in chorus. "You are not going to back out, 
are you?" 

Still Renestine did not look up or make 
any sign that she was interested in the 
preparations for her arranged trip. Pres- 
ently the mother spoke and her voice 
trembled. 

"Renestine has changed her mind and will 
remain at home." 

Then the girls broke into a laugh and 
chided Renestine, saving she was a baby and 
[8] 



THE LITTLE IMMIGRANT 

would never see the ocean or go to America 
and ride in carriages. The mental picture 
was doing its work. Not ride in carriages 
and have pretty clothes and learn to speak 
English? That was too much to refuse. 
Renestine raised her head, wiped the tears 
out of her eyes, brought the skirt neatly 
folded to her mother and said: 

"Mutterchen, finish my trunk. I am 
going with Yetta, Selma and Polly to 
America." 

The journey began and Renestine made 
the voyage over in a sailing vessel which took 
six weeks to make her port at Galveston, 
Texas, in the early fifties. 

The girls experienced days of sea-sickness 
when they thought it was better to die than 
to ride in carriages and were weary and 
homesick. But when, at last, they walked 
again upon land and were welcomed in Gal- 
veston by their relatives, all the melancholy 
hours were forgotten. 

The girls had separated into their different 
[9] 



THE LITTLE IMMIGRANT 

families on arriving at Houston, but fre- 
quently met just as they had before leaving 
their home town, and were observing every- 
thing with eagerness and getting their first 
impressions of America. 

One balmy Sunday morning they took a 
walk and marveled much that Houston had 
so many houses and such large ones. While 
they walked they chatted and were merry. 
Finally, they noticed that a great many 
looked at them curiously, and some smiled. 
They were at last spoken to by an old lady, 
who reminded them that it was not customary 
for girls to walk in the middle of the street. 
This was a conceit that pleased them, to walk 
in the middle of the street just to see people 
walking on either side of them. 

The ringing of the Sunday morning church 
bells was a startling sound and Paula ex- 
claimed, as the three stood still listening: 
"Oh, listen to the music box!" Solemnly 
they walked on and wondered that the world 
was so large and full of beautiful things. It 
[10] 



THE LITTLE IMMIGRANT 

was a long time before Renestine realized 
that they had gone a great distance. "We 
will return now," she said. But when they 
turned to retrace their steps they found them- 
selves in a wood of large, dark trees with 
heavy gray moss dropping from their 
branches and a solemn stillness over all. It 
was growing dusk, too, and the trees looked 
ghostly in the falling gloom. 

"Do you know which way to go?" asked 
Yetta. 

"Oh, come with me and I will show you," 
said Paula. 

Trustingly they followed Paula. But the 
brave girl, after a half hour's vain effort, had 
to admit that she was puzzled herself and did 
not know how to get out of the wood. Yetta 
showed the nearness of tears, but Renestine 
set to work to extricate themselves. Before 
she had decided what to do they all three 
heard horses' hoofs trampling down bush- 
wood and dry twigs not far away. The 
riders, or whatever it was, came nearer until 
the girls saw a young man on horseback, a 

[in 



THE LITTLE IMMIGRANT 

boy accompanying him. The horsemen 
reined in their horses and stopped when they 
saw the girls standing before them. The 
older man, who was about twenty-eight, 
asked how they came to be so far in the depth 
of the trackless woods. When they had told 
him, he dismounted, throwing the reins over 
his arm and leading his horse, he walked 
along by the side of the girls guiding them 
out of their difficulty; the boy followed on 
his horse which carried the saddle-bags con- 
taining the personal belongings of both of 
them. As they walked many questions were 
asked and answered and in a little time the 
woods were left behind and the girls were 
opening the gate of Renestine's sister's home. 
The young rescuer, after seeing them safely 
disappear in the doorway, got on his horse 
again and trotted off to his hotel, the boy fol- 
lowing. 



[12] 



CHAPTER II 

SEATED at her work table in her sit- 
ting room, Mrs. Bilter was putting 
the last stitches in a white Swiss dress 
that Renestine was to wear that night to a 
ball. The puff sleeve close to the shoulder 
was the last of the dainty dress to be put on. 
Mrs. Bilter took eager pleasure in dress- 
ing her pretty sister in the daintiest of 
gowns. When she looked up she saw her 
husband coming through the gate for his noon 
dinner. She put down her sewing and moved 
to meet him on the porch. 

"Well, dear, how are you getting on with 
the ball dress?" For Mr. Bilter was as in- 
terested in his little sister-in-law as his wife 
was. "Renestine will have to look her pret- 
tiest to-night. There are some visiting young 
men in the town and they will be at the ball." 

They went in together and were received 
by old Aunt Mary, a colored family servant 
[13] 



THE LITTLE IMMIGRANT 

who was much respected and held in affection 
by the members. 

"Dinnah jest put on de table, Missus." 
"Has Miss Renestine come home?" 
"No'm. I's hasn't seen her; prehaps she's 
kept in fer not knowin' her lessons." 

Just then Renestine came in, her cheeks 
rosy and her large black eyes luminous with 
the exercise of walking home from school. 
She entered the dining-room laughing and 
sat down next to her brother-in-law. 

"How were the lessons to-day, Renestine?" 
he asked, patting her hand that lay in his. 
"Arithmetic right?" 

"No trouble at all. Oh, I am so glad that 
you both had the idea to send me to school, 
I love it. I love to be puzzled over a question 
and find it out for myself. I love to feel my- 
self gaining knowledge and understanding 
many things that used to be dark and incom- 
prehensible to me and that seem plain now. 
I rejoice that I am able to think and speak 
English," and Renestine turned her head 
toward her sister and her eves were moist. 
[14] 



THE LITTLE IMMIGRANT 

"You are very good to me, Aldine, and be- 
sides you are spoiling me with all the pretty 
dresses you make for me." 

u Oh, do come in right after dinner and look 
at your dress for to-night. It is just lovely 
with the little rosebuds around the shoulders," 
said Mrs. Bilter. 

It did not take long before the three were 
admiring the fluffy white dress and predict- 
ing its success at the ball. 

Renestine hurried home after school and 
sat down by the side of her sister to help sew 
rosebuds on the flounces of the wide skirt. 
When the dress was finished Renestine took 
it to her room and pinned it up on the cur- 
tains of her bed to look at it and get the effect 
of it. Then she got out her little white satin 
slippers and began the ceremony of the 
toilette for the ball. 

Carriages were coming and going before 

the brilliantly lighted Colonial house owned 

by the Good Fellowship Club. The colored 

drivers sat proud and erect on their boxes 

[15] 



THE LITTLE IMMIGRANT 

and held in their restive horses while their 
masters and mistresses alighted. Young 
dandies in ruffled shirts and flowered velvet 
waistcoats came on foot and sprang eagerly 
up the steps and vanished through the double 
doors swung back by colored attendants. 
Strains of music reached the street and ceased 
when the doors opened and shut and the sound 
of many voices in conversation and happy 
laughter burst upon the ear of the passer-by. 
Inside, all was gaiety and animation. Fes- 
toons of greens hung from the chandelier of 
kerosene lights and garlands and wreaths 
decorated the walls of the wide hall and rooms 
where there was dancing. In the ballroom 
five colored musicians were the orchestra and 
the leader "called out" the figures of the 
lancers and quadrilles. "Face your pard- 
ners," he called out as the square dance was 
begun. Several sets of four couples were 
formed ready for the first strains of the 
lancers music and the prompter. "Forward 
all," and all the couples advanced to the 
center. "Swing your pardners," "balance 
[16] 



THE LITTLE IMMIGRANT 

corners," the lady and gentleman faced to the 
right and took steps to the music. " Swing," 
and they swung around. 

The next figure was the "Grand right and 
left," called out by the prompter and the 
couples circled around and after a large ring 
was formed by taking hands and going first 
to the right and then to the left, amid laughter 
the dance broke up. 

Standing near the window on the porch 
were two young men. They were smoking 
cigars and commenting on the guests and the 
surroundings generally. 

"There's a little Queen Esther with her 
black hair braided and folded over her shell 
pink ears. Look at her graceful walk. Do 
you see the one I mean?" asked the taller of 
the two men. 

"Do you mean the one with the rosebuds 
on her gown?" 

"Yes, the very one. She has the most 
beautiful black eyes I have ever seen." 

"Yes, she is a beautiful girl," assented his 
companion. 

[17] 



THE LITTLE IMMIGRANT 

"Where have I seen her before? I recog- 
nize those eyes." 

"You are not captured, are you, Jaffray?" 

"Well, I don't know." And they both 
laughed. "Let us go inside." 

They threw away their cigars and went in. 

"Miss Jewel, Mr. Starr would like to be 
presented to you, may I bring him to you?" 
Renestine looked up and found a friend 
speaking to her, but before she could answer 
the tall stranger was at her friend's elbow. 

"This is a great pleasure for me," said the 
newly introduced guest. "But, Miss Jewel, 
it has been an impression of mine since I first 
saw you this evening that we have met be- 
fore. Can you help me settle upon the place, 
time and occasion?" 

"Why, no," laughed Renestine, showing 
two rows of small, white teeth that enhanced 
her charm. 

"I am sure if we try hard enough we shall 
soon discover," Jaffray said. "May I sit 
down?" 

Renestine drew sideways to allow him to 
[18] 



THE LITTLE IMMIGRANT 

draw up a chair, her hoop skirt spreading her 
tarlatan flounces some space around her. 

"Why, yes, indeed, now that I look at you, 
the woods, gray moss, three frightened young 
ladies ; it was in the dusk of evening as I was 
riding from McKinney, all of that picture 
returns," he put his forefinger to his lips, and 
looked down at the floor in deep reflection. 

For a moment Renestine was silent, then 
turned rosy red. "Oh, Mr. Starr, was it you 
who brought us out of the Wilderness and 
restored us to our families? You appeared 
at the most fortunate moment, we were really 
lost," and she laughed heartily. "You are a 
stranger here, Mr. Starr?" 

"Not altogether. I have visited here be- 
fore on business. Where I live it is lonesome 
for me and I take my vacations with much 
the spirit of a school boy. Shall we dance?" 

The "Kiss Waltz" was a great favorite and 
the opening bars were beginning, "Hun" 
Williams, leader of the orchestra, putting a 
good swing into it. Renestine and Jaffray 
glided with the rhvthm of the music and 
[19] 



THE LITTLE IMMIGRANT 

danced until the last strains closed the tune- 
ful composition. Throwing a lace scarf 
about her shoulders, J affray led Renestine 
to the balcony. The moon was bright as day 
and the early May dew brought out the fra- 
grance of the jessamine and clematis climb- 
ing over the balustrade. 

They stood for a time without speaking, 
feeling the spell of the Southern spring time. 

"Is not this solemn beauty? Somehow it 
hurts, it is so beautiful," said Renestine 
quietly, her large eyes dreamy and full of 
softness. 

"Ah, you have a poet's soul, Miss Jewel. 
Will you tell me something of your life? 
You were not bom here?" 

They were walking up and down the broad 
verandah and Renestine was telling him of 
the little mother so far away, parted from, 
perhaps never to be seen again. She was say- 
ing, "At last when the time came to say good- 
bye, I clung to my mother's form and in that 
moment could see my soul, bared, bruised, 
wounded and somehow the little girl passed 
[20] 



THE LITTLE IMMIGRANT 

with that parting and although I was but a 
few months younger than I am to-night, I 
am here just one year, I feel much changed 
and older." Her lids closed and Jaffray did 
not interrupt. "Mr. Starr, do you know of 
any experience more cruel than this parting 
of parents in Europe with their children to 
come to America? I think of it now so often. 

I think there cannot be in all life " 

JafTray saw the tears in those wonderful 
eyes. "No, Miss Jewel, no. I know of noth- 
ing more humanly cruel ! I, too, parted from 
my beloved mother and twin sister when a 
mere lad to cross the ocean to seek my for- 
tune in America. A lad barely fifteen years 
of age, I had no idea of what I was going out 
to meet in the world when I took my small 
belongings and journeyed toward these 
shores. There were no friends, no relatives 
where I was going ; all those were being left 
behind ; but the spirit of adventure possessed 
me and I wanted more freedom to work out 
my destiny in and the parting had to be for 
me and I cannot tell you how I have suffered 
[21] 



T H E LITTLE IMMIGRANT 

from homesickness for the beloved Mother 
and good sister, for the little home in the 
Rhine village where the terraces of grapes 
lay just hack of our house; that never is for- 
gotten, no matter how long one lives. We 
have a common bond of sympathy, may I 
hope it means a tie of friendship?" 

She gave him her hand and shortly after- 
wards he led her back into the ballroom ; but 
the music could not tempt them to dance 
again and, after seeing Renestine with 
friends, he said good-night and left. 

It was near daylight when Jaffray smoked 
his last cigar and finally put out the light in 
his little room in the hotel and went to bed. 

Jaffray paid frequent visits to Houston 
from McKinney, after he met Miss Jewel. 
Although Renestine was busy with her school 
work, her sister permitted her, like all the 
young girls, to accept the attentions of young 
men who wished to call or who invited her to 
social affairs. 

Jaffrav was some vears older than Rene- 
[22] 



THE LITTLE IMMIGRANT 

stine and was aware that she was but a school 
girl, untutored in the ways of the world, even 
less than most girls of her age. But Erne- 
stine's modesty, her innocence, her beauty, 
appealed to him as no other woman's charms 
had done and thoughts of her took possession 
of him. His stuffy little office in McKinney, 
in the long, narrow store where general mer- 
chandise was rather irregularly piled around 
in high wooden boxes, in barrels, and on shal- 
low shelves, became a prison house and the 
weeks endless terms of sentence. It hap- 
pened that he could not absent himself from 
duty of tener than once every month and then 
only from Friday to Sunday night. These 
days of freedom were now prized tenfold 
more dearly than if he had had his time free 
to do as he wished. 

Heretofore it had been his dearest wish to 
employ his spare time with books, reading 
and studying to improve his mind and for the 
pleasure that books gave him. Now his 
thoughts refused to concentrate upon any- 
thing but Miss Jewel. 

[23] 



THE LITTLE IMMIGRANT 

After some weeks of acquaintance there 
was an exchange of letters which grew into a 
long correspondence. Those were happy 
days for Jaffray! Eagerly he would look 
forward to the mail and from the receipt of 
each of Ernestine's letters to the next he 
would be in a heaven all his own. He sent 
her songs and books of verse ; he wrote long 
and throbbing letters and Winter and 
Spring, Summer and Autumn were just one 
long summer day for him with the music of 
the birds overhead and the earth a garden of 
blossoms. 



I' »4 1 



CHAPTER III 

TWO years went by and Renestine had 
been the bride of Jaffray Starr three 
months. Grown into womanhood, she 
was radiant ; happy in her love and secure in 
the faith of her choice, she went forth from 
her sister's home full of hope and cheer. 
Renestine had had many suitors, had had 
much admiration. She could have become 
the wife of a young adoring banker ; she had 
refused to listen to the suit of men of more 
substance than her husband; but because of 
the quiet manliness of Jaffray Starr, because 
of his keen intellect, because of his nobilitv of 
heart and generous nature, she gave her 
heart into his keeping, sure that she had made 
no mistake, and set out with him to share his 
fortune, whatever it would bring. They had 
been married and left at once for Jaffray's 
home at Jefferson, where he had a position 
in the County Clerk's office. Now they were 
[25] 



THE LITTLE IMMIGRANT 

settled and housekeeping. But it was a long, 
rough journey they had made from Houston 
to Jefferson. The railroads had not been 
built in that section of the country and travel 
was done by horse teams and in covered 
wagons. Two good colored servants accom- 
panied them ; old Josiah, who drove and took 
care of the rough work, and his wife, Caro- 
line, to look after the "Missus" and do the 
cooking. Bringing out kettles and pans 
tucked away in the wagon, Josiah would 
build a brushwood fire and Caroline would 
cook the meals, rations for two weeks having 
been provided. When it was time to stop for 
a meal or to rest the horses, Josiah would be 
on the watch for a clear spring of water along 
the roadside, would draw up by the side of it 
and begin preparations for camping. It was 
not as much of a hardship as Pullman trav- 
elers would conclude. The wagons were 
fitted with springs which gave easily over 
rough roads and even had a fascination and 
romance, and in the cool of the evening when 
a stretch of smooth road lay before them it 
[26] 



THE LITTLE IMMIGRANT 

was delicious to feel the soft air blowing into 
their faces and to experience the exhilaration 
of the rapid motion of the wagon. There 
were also arrangements for comfortable beds. 

Word had gone ahead that Jaffray was 
bringing home a bride and the people were 
alert to give her welcome. Jaffray never 
realized how much he was thought of until 
he came back a Benedict. Homes were 
thrown open to him and his young wife with 
offers to remain as long as they would, and 
all kinds of propositions made for their com- 
fort and welfare. 

"No, thank you, John or Tom or Buck," 
he would reply, kindly but firmly. "We shall 
go to the hotel until we can arrange a home. 
I have already rented a house and it won't 
take us long to get settled." 

Nor did it. In a few weeks Jaffray and 
Renestine were occupying a small house, not 
far from the river that skirted the town, with 
Josiah and Caroline in charge. 

"I do not see how anything can be pret- 
tier," said Renestine one day after thev had 
[27] 



THE LITTLE IMMIGRANT 

been in their home about a week. She had 
just finished looping the pretty Swiss cur- 
tains at the windows of their living room. 
"I really do not," she continued, stepping 
back, her finger tips together, her head quizzi- 
cally on one side. ' 'Nothing can be sweeter 
or prettier than our home. Jaffray, have you 
noticed how dainty the chintz furniture is 
and how well it goes with the walls? I think 
I deserve commendation for that wall paper, 
Jaffray." 

"Indeed, you do, my darling," returned 
Jaffray, pulling solemnly at his pipe and 
looking half amused, half serious, at his 
young wife. "Are you quite sure the pattern 
is large enough?" he said, laughing. 

"Oh, you ungrateful man, you are making 
fun of me, I do believe. Come into the din- 
ing-room and have dinner. Caroline is just 
bringing it in." 

Arm in arm, they stepped into a long, nar- 
row room which went the width of the house, 
only excepting a little room off the main 
bedroom which was used for a dressing room. 
[28] 



THE LITTLE IMMIGRANT 

The house consisted of a living room, a small 
hall and across from the living room, the bed- 
room. Back of the little room was a small 
porch and detached from the house, but con- 
nected by a covered walk, was the kitchen. 
The dining-room was a foot below the two 
front rooms, the kitchen joining it by the 
covered passage way. They could never ex- 
plain why the dining-room was so arranged, 
but concluded that the owner had added it on 
at a later time. It was cosy and comfortable 
and became attractive under the deft fingers 
of Renestine. The little covered porch in 
front of the house was screened by running 
vines from the gaze of the street. 

"Now for my book shelf!" exclaimed Jaf- 
fray, after he had smoked his afternoon pipe. 
"You must help me arrange them, Renestine. 
No real home without books, little girl." 

Josiah brought in the large drygoods box, 
which he opened, and together Jaffray and 
Renestine took out the books, dusted them 
and placed them on the shelves built in one 
side of the wall. Among them were Byron, 
[29] 



THE LITTLE IMMIGRANT 

Moore, Pope, History of the United States, 
Josephus, Irving' s Life of Washington. It 
was late when the last one had been put away, 
and they were glad enough to rest in their 
rockers on the porch in the gloaming. 



[30] 



CHAPTER IV 

THE day was hot and sultry. The 
chinaberry trees gave out their sweet 
flower fragrance, almost too sweet to 
breathe freely in, while their lacy leaves 
scarcely stirred. A great shady one grew in 
the corner of the paling-fence around the 
yard and close to the two-room living quar- 
ters for the negro servants. Aunt Caroline 
sat in the door combing her wiry hair with a 
curry comb, a jagged piece of broken mirror 
in her lap to guide her in her hairdressing ; 
close by were a couple of rush-bottom chairs 
set face to face and holding across their seats 
a pillow with a mosquito netting pulled tight 
across the top of the backs. Every once in a 
while Aunt Caroline would twist her neck in 
the direction of the improvised bed and, find- 
ing nothing stirring, would resume her hair- 
brushing. 

• [31] 



THE LITTLE IMMIGRANT 

"Oh, Aunt Caroline," rushed out of the air 
and a two-year-old little girl threw herself 
heavily against the old servant's knees, nearly 
dashing her toilet articles to the ground. 
Aunt Caroline started, raised her curry 
brush over her head and shook it hard at the 
child. 

"My lands," she said, in a low voice. 
"Whar j r ou come from and making all dat 
noise and your sister lying dar asleep. Ain't 
you never gwine to membar waht I's al'ays 
tellin' yer, not ter brash up against one like 
out de Sperrit world and nearly scare yer old 
mammy ter deth? Ennyhow yer look tired; 
come heah in my lap and le' me rock yer." 

"May I have your looking glass, then, 
Aunt Caroline?" 

"Look out, chile, you'll cut yerself ! No. 
I's got to lay dis up on de shelf for mahself . 
Dis no lookin' glass fer a white chile. Now 
you come heah and get in my lap dis minute." 

The child, tired from play and romping 
around, lifted her arms to be taken up into 
her dear old mammy's lap. With her curly 
[32] 



THE LITTLE IMMIGRANT 

head pressed against Aunt Caroline's breast, 
she fell asleep in a little while and was rest- 
ing there long after Aunt Caroline had 
stopped tilting her chair forward and back- 
ward — a way quite familiar to Southern 
nurses in lulling children to sleep. In a little 
while she had succumbed to the silent noon 
hour herself. 

"Looka heah, nigger. What you mean 
holden dat chile in yer lap and you fast ter 
sleep? Wake up. Yer heah? Miss Tiny is 
comin'!" Josiah shoved his brogan over 
Aunt Caroline's thinly shod foot and she 
jerked her head up with a start. 

"Bless mah soul !" She looked around with 
a frightened appearance at the chairs with 
the mosquito netting over them and two blue 
gray eyes were looking up into hers and a 
little fist was being devoured. 

"Here you are with the children," said a 
low, sweet voice. "I've wondered if Lola was 
with you. Has the baby been asleep a long 
time, Aunt Caroline?" 

"Yes'm. She jest now waken up. Ain't 
[33] 



THE LITTLE IMMIGRANT 

she purty, Miss Tiny? Just look at her little 
face looken like a cherub's. She shore is a 
buiful chile. Looks a hole lot like you wid 
her big eyes, on'y dey gray 'stead of black." 

"Let me take Lola from you and you lift 
the baby and bring her to the house." 

"Yes'm." Aunt Caroline didn't lose an 
opportunity, however, to turn around to re- 
mark to Josiah, who was hoeing not far away, 
"Yer, Josiah, you jes come heah, suh, and 
tote dis chile up to de house. She too hebby 
fer de Missus. You lubbering black nigger, 
you jes good fer nothin' nohow and doan you 
eber stamp on my foot agin ! Go long, Miss 
Tiny, we will bring up de chillens !" 

Jaffray was home for midday dinner. 
"I've bought a nurse girl for you, Renestine. 
Here is the bill of sale," he said, handing a 
light blue paper to her. Renestine read: 
"A copper colored girl," etc. When they were 
seated at the table Jaffray said: "I felt like 
a mean creature when I paid the money for 
that girl, but I knew we needed a nurse girl. 
Aunt Caroline can't cook and care anv longer 
[34] 



THE LITTLE IMMIGRANT 

for the children too, so what was to be done? 
This slavery system is frightful, and mark 
my words, Renestine, the day will come when 
the darkies will be free. Where I was born, 
on the Rhine, no one would believe for a mo- 
ment that I would buy a human being. They 
would hate me as I hate myself for bartering 
in human flesh." 

"I know, I know, JafTray. I remember 
when my sister used to send Josiah out in the 
morning to work, he would come back in the 
evening with his pay that he had earned in 
the blacksmith shop and give it to her, and 
Aunt Caroline would bring her money, too, 
that she had made by a hard day's washing 
and ironing. Oh, yes, it is all wrong and 
dreadful, but we will treat them well and 
wait for the day to set them free!" 

"It will not be long now. There are all 
sorts of rumors about Lincoln doing this and 
that." 

"You mean about setting the negroes 
free?" 

"Yes." 

[35] 



THE LITTLE IMMIGRANT 

"But how? People will not just let them 
walk away !" 

"Walk away ! Oh, little woman, if it could 
be brought around that way the threatening 
clouds would not be so dark ahead! 'Just 
walk away.' The President is offering to find 
a way out. One is to 'compensate' owners 
out of Government funds for the release of 
their slaves ; another is sending them to some 
warm country for colonization. Of course, 
he would ask Congress for an appropriation 
for this." 

For long hours they sat reading the latest 
news in the day's paper and discussing the 
war reports with a very solemn foreboding 
of coming events. 



[36] 



CHAPTER V 

WHEN the Civil War broke out 
the women of the South blanched 
with the terrible ordeal before 
them, but never for one moment doubted but 
that their beloved ones would come out of it 
all victorious. To them it was not conceiv- 
able that a cause so plainly one of individual 
rights could be lost. Sacrifice upon sacrifice 
was cheerfully made, even gloried in by these 
wonderful women of the South in 1861 and 
to the bitter end. Delicately nurtured women 
denied themselves comforts, sleep, food and 
drink; they were reduced to personal hard- 
ships which were met and borne with a sub- 
lime fortitude. 

When it was all over those families which 
had possessed wealth and culture were in the 
grip of poverty, and it was then that the 
spirit of Southern womanhood showed its 
divine strength. Facing family troubles 
[37] 



THE LITTLE IMMIGRANT 

with the courage of noble resignation, those 
women who had been educated — some abroad 
— and accomplished, became school teachers 
at five dollars a month for a pupil, and many 
a woman to-day bears gratitude in her heart 
for the sweet influence of these school teach- 
ers, which has gone with her into every clime, 
into every condition, and proved an unfailing 
guide to the uplands and the heights. Many 
became seamstresses, some governesses and 
others traveling companions. But wherever 
these gentlewomen went they carried refine- 
ment and ideals. 

The heroism of the Southern women in the 
Civil War is an Epic in American History! 

Renestine was the mother now of three 
little daughters. JafTray had gone to Mexico 
to buy up horses, saddles and commissaries 
for the army. Caroline and Josiah were her 
bodyguards and, faithful servants, they saved 
her little anxieties and looked after the wel- 
fare of the children. 

Renestine made their little shoes by shap- 
[38] 




The bard Ossian playing his harp to Malvixo. 



THE LITTLE IMMIGRANT 

ing cloth after their worn ones and sewing 
them together with pieces of soft cardboard 
for soles. She made coffee by drying beets, 
and flour by drying potatoes. Her practical 
little head was resourceful for any emer- 
gency. She felt sad at the separation from 
her husband, and her large black eyes were 
mournful but not tearful. To be up and 
doing was her spirit. In spare moments she 
sat down to her tambourine to do crewel work 
on a tapestry picture. It was a large sub- 
ject — The bard Ossian playing his harp to 
Malvino. Ossian seated on the front of some 
brown rocks, Malvino seated before him, her 
hands folded across his knees, full of tender 
regard for the gentle musician. This work 
was her pastime and recreation. She selected 
the worsteds and worked her needle out and 
in, shading and coloring and outlining with 
the skill of an artist in paints. Three years 
she worked on this picture, almost to the end 
of the war, almost as long as Penelope 
worked on her task awaiting Ulysses' return. 
In the meantime Jaffray paid short visits 
[39] ' 



THE LITTLE IMMIGRANT 

to his family and made them as comfortable 
for periods of his absence as he had it in his 
power to do. Texas was too far away to be 
the theatre of battles during the conflict, so 
that no real harassing of the families by the 
invading Northern soldiers took place, but 
her people suffered privations and danger 
just as much as her sister states and perhaps 
more after the war was over and the recon- 
struction period set in. 

In 1870 the town of Jefferson was thrown 
into a panic by the murder one night of a 
"carpet-bagger." Carpet-bagger was a name 
given to those men who came into Southern 
towns after the war to stir up the people, and 
particularly the darkies, against the author- 
ities. It was necessary for Washington to 
send troops to Jefferson to restore order. 

A stockade was built up on the hill near 
the new home of Jaffray, for he had found 
his first little house too small for his growing 
family, and into this stockade some of Jeffer- 
son's prominent citizens were thrown and 
[40] 



THE LITTLE IMMIGRANT 

kept until they could prove their innocence of 
the charges brought against them, namely, 
that they had knowledge of the murder of the 
carpet-bagger. Those were trying days. 
Jaffray had returned from Mexico in im- 
paired health, which had been caused by the 
impure drinking water in the country and 
also the intense heat there. The doctors told 
him he had to take a long rest. 

Things were going badly in the town, mili- 
tary law was established and all men found 
implicated in the disturbance were drastically 
punished. The war had reduced the pros- 
perous store holder to penury, there was little 
money left to circulate among the people and 
Jefferson was demoralized in its business, 
civic and social life. 

General Buell, commanding the military 
occupation, asked as a favor to be put up at 
Jaffray' s house, as it was one of the largest 
in the town and near the camp. Jaffray con- 
sented. So General Buell and his wife came 
to live with Renestine and Jaffray, and after- 
wards one or two other officers and their wives 
[41] 



THE LITTLE IMMIGRANT 

joined General BuelL This was a coura- 
geous thing for Jaffray to have done, for, 
with the spirit existing in the town at that 
critical time, not many residents would har- 
bor the Yankees. It was so dangerous that 
one night, when the General wished to retire 
to his rooms across the broad hall, he turned 
to Jaffray and said : 

"Jaffray, put out the lamps before I cross 
over." 

Kerosene lamps were in use and Jaffray 
put out the light before the officer walked 
from the sitting room across to his own rooms. 
In politics Jaffray was a Republican and he 
had the courage to live up to his convictions 
in a community that was enraged against 
Lincoln and his party. But the Republicans 
stood for free men, whatever color or creed, 
and Jaffray championed their doctrines. For 
him humanity, justice and liberty was the 
breath of his nostrils. This passion for men's 
rights he had inherited from a long line of 
ancestors reaching back into the mists of "In 
the beginning." He was an Israelite. 
[42] 



THE LITTLE IMMIGRANT 

Renestine was glad to accept this change 
in their lives, as she realized that JafTray's 
affairs were not prosperous and with the 
assistance of her servants she could help him 
very well, particularly as he was not in robust 
health. Whatever situation faced her she 
met it with high courage and a spirit to do. 
Their devotion was deep and with their little 
family they were happy and contented. Sor- 
row had not spared them, however, for their 
baby daughter had contracted whooping 
cough and died a few months before. Jaffray 
grieved deeply for the little child and Rene- 
stine was almost overcome. But she straight- 
ened up her beautiful head, like a flower after 
the storm has passed, and comforted her 
husband. 



[43] 



CHAPTER VI 

J AFFRAY was now Postmaster of 
Jefferson. The city had resumed its 
normal life and gained in population 
and wealth. The streets were filled with 
wagons loaded with bales of cotton brought 
from as far away as 250 miles by ox teams, 
which took three weeks. 

Jefferson was at the head of navigation on 
an arm of the Red River. Steamboats came 
up once or twice a week and the cotton was 
shipped to New Orleans and from that city 
to the mills in the East. When the boats 
arrived the scene on the levee was a very ani- 
mated one. Negroes would fix large bill 
hooks into the bagging around the cotton 
bales and load them into drays. Some of 
them worked singing, as sailors do when they 
haul and pull. 

Sometimes the captains of the larger 
steamboats would issue invitations to the 
[44] 



THE LITTLE IMMIGRANT 

families for a soiree, when the excitement 
would fill society for days. The ladies would 
dress in their silks and laces and the men 
spruce up in their frock coats and flowered 
waistcoats and cross the gang plank into the 
kerosene-lighted steamboats and dance until 
morning. Those were red letter days for 
Jefferson. As a matter of etiquette, when 
the steamboat was loaded and about to start 
back, everybody would be at the levee to 
wave good-bye. The side paddle would turn 
and the hospitable captain would be up in the 
pilot house, waving his cap in return until the 
churning side-wheel carried him around the 
bend. 

New houses were dotting the town here and 
there, some of them large and handsome with 
spacious grounds. Kerosene oil lamps were 
put up to light the streets and an "Opera 
House'' was built, where many a stock com- 
pany came to play in tragedy or comedy. 
Shakespeare's plays were the favorites of the 
community and Jaffray and Renestine went 
often to the theatre, accompanied by their 
[45] 



THE LITTLE IMMIGRANT 

two daughters, who were in their advanced 
school-day years and able to appreciate it. 
There were two little sons added to their 
family circle; they remained asleep in their 
trundle beds with old Aunt Caroline watch- 
ing over them, as she had watched over the 
little daughters. Josiah had died right after 
the war was over, but he lived to see his peo- 
ple freed and schools opened where they 
could be taught to read and write — a precious 
privilege. He had said to Aunt Caroline 
just before his last illness: "Thanks be to 
God that He has set the colored folks free, 
but thanks be to Him mosen for gibbin' me 
a good marsa and missus who gibs me my 
close, my vittles and my me' cine." 

The relation of the household servants to 
the Southern family was that of trust and 
affection after their liberation. In advanced 
years, like old Aunt Caroline, the younger 
servants saved them unnecessary steps and 
their days were happy and peaceful. 

Near the home which Renestine and Jaf- 
fray occupied almost touching the porch was 
[46] 



THE LITTLE IMMIGRANT 

a huge oak tree spreading wide shade around 
it. Here the children played; or, if it was a 
rainy day, they carried their precious dolls 
and drums into the latticed summer house 
built for ornamentation and use in very hot 
weather, where woodbine and honeysuckle 
ran along its diamond-shaped walls and hung 
thick and colorful in great waves. Jaffray 
loved his home and spared nothing that would 
make it comfortable and attractive. 

His days were very arduous now, as he 
had to learn the methods of a government 
position. It appealed to him, though, for it 
was a pursuit which required reading up on 
rules, laws and regulations, and his bent was 
for books and instruction from them. While 
his days passed in attending to the business 
of the Post Office, his nights were given to 
study and self-improvement. He was never 
satisfied with what he achieved ; to learn and 
to know more and more was his ruling pas- 
sion. Many citizens now called upon him 
for advice. He would be asked to speak 
when a new building was opened or a public 
[47] 



THE LITTLE IMMIGRANT 

movement was on foot. They knew him to be 
generous and full of civic pride. He be- 
longed to the Board of Aldermen and at one 
time was offered the office of Mayor. He 
had the confidence and respect of all the in- 
habitants of the town and his politeness and 
gentleness were the qualifications which made 
them love him. 

He was a tall, spare figure, with black, 
well-set eyes, black hair, now showing thin at 
the temples and somewhat bald; he had a 
short black beard and moustache and his car- 
riage was upright and dignified. He could 
be stern, even severe, when things aroused his 
anger and nothing could touch his temper 
quicker than underhand dealings or a mean 
act. But his whole being was steeped with 
love of his kind and sympathy with the poor. 

In the early days of Jefferson he and a 
friend bought a deed for a cemetery and pre- 
sented it to the Jewish community. His 
home was opened to social and political 
gatherings where his friends were sure of a 
warm welcome. Renestine was always the 
[48] 



THE LITTLE IMMIGRANT 

center of attraction of these social affairs. 
She was proud of her husband and flushed 
with happiness when she saw him surrounded 
by admiring groups of men. 

At this time a new influence came into 
their lives. It was a fine old Frenchman, 
who had drifted down to Jefferson from Ala- 
bama, where he had been a professor of piano 
teaching. His name was D'Archais, and by 
degrees they learned his history. But the 
immediate result of their meeting was to give 
their two little daughters, now eight and ten 
years old, to him to be instructed in music. 

The history of this new friend was a ro- 
mantic one. During the time of Louis 
Philippe he left Paris. His property and 
title had been taken by the revolutionists, for 
he was an aristocrat, a Count, and he found 
that he was safer with the ocean between him 
and his beloved Paris. 

He landed in Mobile, Alabama, and used 

his accomplishments of painting and music 

as a means of gaining a livelihood. For many 

years he worked in his profession and accu- 

[49] 



THE LITTLE IMMIGRANT 

mulated enough to lay aside. This he in- 
vested in cotton which was destroyed in a 
warehouse by fire. It was hard, but he began 
all over again and in the meantime married 
a widow with a daughter. This step-daughter 
won his complete affection, and when she 
married he devoted himself to her two chil- 
dren, a girl and a boy. It was because of 
these two children that he came to Jefferson, 
where they were then living. 

The music teacher was 70 years old when 
he came into the lives of Jaffray and Rene- 
stine; a polished, grand old man of kingly 
soul and manners. The little daughters 
quickly learned to love their dear old teacher 
and all his life time he was their dear friend. 

Jaffray was much impressed by this gentle 
nobleman and was glad to have the privilege 
of his friendship for himself and his family. 
He found that he was easily tired in these 
days and welcomed nightfall when he could 
sit on the porch in the twilight of summer and 
feel the peace of evening creep on apace. 
Often Mr. D'Archais would join him and 
[50] 



THE LITTLE IMMIGRANT 

chat about travel and the fall and rise of 
political parties in France. 

"I left France after the fall of Louis Phil- 
ippe," he said, "and came to America. My 
property was confiscated and I arrived here 
penniless. A friend of mine had gone to 
Mobile, Alabama, some years before and I 
resolved to follow him. I began life over 
again and took a position in a young ladies' 
academy there to teach piano. I had taken 
lessons from renowned musicians in Paris, 
the same as taught Napoleon's sister, Paul- 
ine, and this was my only means now of mak- 
ing a living. 

"I did very well, lived comfortably and 
saved a little besides, so that when the war 
broke out I had invested in cotton which was 
in a warehouse waiting to be sold. A large 
fire destroyed the warehouse with its con- 
tents, leaving me penniless once more, as 
there was not a dollar of insurance on it. 

"In the meantime my friend had died leav- 
ing his family — wife and daughter — in my 
care. I decided to carry out his wish on his 
[51] 



THE LITTLE IMMIGRANT 

deathbed and married his wife soon after. 
His daughter became my joy and happiness. 
She was docile, ma foi, so perfect, that in a 
few years, when she married, I was irrecon- 
cilable." Here the music master would stop, 
let his face drop into his big, white, soft 
hands for a moment and then go on with his 
story. "She died three years after her mar- 
riage, leaving two children, a boy and a girl. 
These children were adopted by people here 
in this state and I followed. Jefferson was 
recommended to me as a good place to begin 
a class in music. I am not sorry I came as 
I have made friends and in my old age I can 
look forward to peace and a few devoted 
pupils to brighten the days." Many times 
during his recital he would exclaim: "Mon 
Dieu, mon dieu, I have seen many trials and 
tribulations." 

Jaffray was always sorry to see Mr. 
D'Archais leave; his personality and story 
were romantic and picturesque. Long into 
the shadows of the night he would sit watch- 
ing the stars come out one by one, thinking of 
[52] 



THE LITTLE IMMIGRANT 

the troublous life of the nobleman and simple 
music teacher. 

In the Autumn Jaffray took to his bed 
utterly worn out and grew very ill, so ill that 
the family doctor felt a great deal of concern 
about his symptoms. He instructed that 
Jaffray be kept very quiet on a low diet and 
stimulants, to be given every few hours. 
This treatment benefited Jaffray so that he 
was able to sit up in a favorite arm chair now 
and then and listen to Charles Dickens' story, 
"Our Mutual Friend," then running as a 
serial in Harper's Magazine, read to him by 
his little gray-eyed daughter now ten years 
old. 

At the close of the reading one morning 
he said : "What a great man ! I'd rather die 
to-day and leave behind me the fame of 
Charles Dickens than live to be a hundred 
years old." 

Much encouraged by Jaffray's condition, 

Renestine took fresh hope and went about her 

daily occupation with more energy. She 

knew Jaffrav's tender affection for his chil- 

[53] 



THE LITTLE IMMIGRANT 

dren and when on his good days he had been 
made comfortable in his big arm chair the 
two young daughters, Lola and Ena, and 
their little brothers, Lester, Andrew and 
Frank, were allowed to come into his room 
and be near him, the infant son Frank rest- 
ing in his arms, Lola standing by like a little 
mother watching over them all. 

Other days he would look out of the win- 
dow and watch the big oak tree standing 
near, with its leaves turning brown, shaking 
in the wind. Winter was turning the vines 
on the summer house into lifeless twists of 
runners and bending the rose bushes until 
the petals were strewn about the ground. 

It was not until the first week in November 
that Renestine noticed that JafTray was not 
as strong as usual. He kept to his bed now 
altogether and his great heart seemed to 
speak to her of what was uppermost there — 
the parting; after only thirteen years of 
wedded life the end had come. His little 
Queen Esther with the rosebuds on her gown I 

In his last moments he said to a friend: 
[54] 



THE LITTLE IMMIGRANT 

"What does it matter whether a man lives 
a little longer or not? It is only the loved 
ones he leaves that matter." 

At his death the city closed the places of 
business by proclamation of the Mayor and 
the long line of followers at his bier to the 
little cemetery he had given testified to the 
love his fellow men bore him. 

Renestine was crushed. Her five children 
were to be lived for, of course, but how could 
she face the long years before her? She was 
young, inexperienced, unused to the world 
and its ways. She was overwhelmed by her 
fate. The assets of a generous man at his 
death are debts and some friends. Had it 
not been for the advice and devotion of a few 
friends, Renestine would have gone down in 
the black waters that were now surging 
around her. The Post Office was looked 
after until she could find strength in body 
and mind to assume the duties of Post Mis- 
tress to which she was appointed. When she 
entered the door that first morning it was as 
a broken spirit without any idea of what she 
[55]' 



THE LITTLE IMMIGRANT 

was aibout to undertake. The task was seri- 
ous and exacting, she realized, but how to 
grasp its thousand details? Her master 
would be the U. S. Government, an uncom- 
promising, stern and bloodless one. 

Not many years before this little woman 
was an immigrant child, landing with timid 
step on strange soil. To-day she was ushered 
into the important office of Government Mail 
and Money matters, one of the most respon- 
sible positions in the country. 

With her usual courage and determination 
to learn, Renestine set about the long figures 
of quarterly returns and register reports, 
money order and stamp reports, making up 
and distributing mail, prompt deliveries and 
sending out of mail. Her pride in her new 
life responded to the demands made upon her 
and she went forward. Unafraid now, for 
she had a grasp of the difficulties, she bent to 
her work. She poured over her monthly and 
quarterly returns in the quiet of night and 
over and over again she wrote and figured 
until she understood and could make them 
[56] 



THE LITTLE IMMIGRANT 

out correctly. She was encouraged by her 
friends and complimented by the bankers 
and merchants in the city for her successful 
efforts. 

The first year was a long trial to Renestine. 
Her children were young and needed her care 
and guidance as well as the new occupation. 
But the little mother was all the busier when 
she returned home in the evening. With a 
divine strength to perform and serve, she 
labored. 

The education of each child was followed 
patiently, eagerly, unceasingly, by her. 
Music and languages, besides the funda- 
mentals, were to be given to each. 

The bodies were clothed by her flying 
fingers at night. What a boon ready-to-wear 
would have been to this little mother. Not a 
boy's garment could be had unless it was the 
handiwork of the household. 

One evening, many years afterward, Rene- 
stine returned to her home with her sixteenth 
commission in her hand. She had served the 
[57] 



THE LITTLE IMMIGRANT 

public of Jefferson faithfully and efficiently 
and the people had honored her. During 
these years her elder daughter had married 
but only lived a year after her marriage. 
This was another searing sorrow and for 
many days seemed to consume her. Now her 
second daughter was about to become the 
wife of a noble man who had long wished to 
wed her and take her back with him to make 
their home in New York City. 

This evening she sat in the midst of her 
little family and recalled many scenes of her 
life. She was still a young woman, forty- 
eight, and she intended sending her resigna- 
tion to Washington. She was about to leave 
Jefferson and follow her daughter to New 
York where there were better opportunities 
for the advancement of her three sons. 

The following day she went with her pros- 
pective son-in-law and her daughter to pay 
a farewell visit to Mr. D'Archais at his little 
two-roomed house. The old man rose with 
his arms outstretched to meet them and his 
"little girl" was soon enclosed in them. On 
[58] 



THE LITTLE IMMIGRANT 

parting he turned to her soon-to-be husband 
and said : 

"Make her happy. Make my little girl 
happy," and held his hand affectionately in 
his own. 

So it was that Renestine, the little immi- 
grant girl, became a superb woman of deeds, 
a wonderful American mother whose grand- 
children have fought in this last war to win 
democracy for the world ! 

THE END 



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